Track-spray apparatus.



A. J. NEAFIE.

TRACK SPRAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 19I4.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916' 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

A. J. NEAFIEx TRACK SPRAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1914.

1 169990. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- A. J. NEAFIE. TRACK SPRAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-7,1914- 1,].69,990. Patented Feb. 1, .916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITE ANDREW J. NEAFIE, 0F MOUNTAIN LAKE. NEW JERSEY.

TRACK-SPRAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rep. 1, rate.

Application filed November 7, 1914. Serial No. 870,776.

To all whom it-may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. NEAFIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Lake, in the county of Morris and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Spray Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for oil treating railways and has for its object to provide apparatus by means of which a. thin coating or protective film of oil or other preservative liquid may be applied to the exposedsurfaces 'of railway rails and their connected parts and preferably without getting the oil on the upper surface or tread of the rails -or wasting it on the roadbed.

It is well known that one of the chief costs in the maintenance of railway tracksis the loss due to rust and destruction by the elements'of-the track'fixtures. particularly the bolts, fish-plates, etc., of the joints as well as the rails themselves.

In railway yards and like places where the trallic warrants the expense, the metal of the switches. cross-overs. etc., is some times treated with oil for, preventingrust and keeping the parts in working condition,

the oil being applied by hand. but to so treat the entire line of track would obviously entail animpossible expense both in the quantity of oil which would be required and the labor of applying it.

By my invention I provide an apparatus, entirely automatic in its operation, which while being propelled rapidly over the track applies to the side faces of the tracks and their connecting parts a film of oil suflicient to, protect the'metal' against corrosion but requiring-much less oil to a given girface than can be applied in any known manner by hand.

My in ention also provides means for .pro-

tecting the tread of the rails from the oil and includes mechanism for wiping off of the tread any oil that may accidentally reach it.

My invention a so provides means for sprinkling the roadbed at crossing, stationsor other places wherever desired, so that theroad after the passage of the car containingthe apparatus will be in the best condition for trafiic:

With the above objects in view, my invention consists of the apparatus shown in the accompanying-drawings and hereinafter described, it being understood that the invention is not limited to such details of construction but covers all such modifications of the same as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

So far as I am aware I am the first to provide apparatus for accomplishing the above described purposes, and my claims are therefore to be construed in accordance with the scope of the invention.

In the said drawings: Figures 1 and 2 show in plan and side elevation respectively a car equipped with my improved apparatus; Fig. 3 is an end elevation on an. enlarged scale of the car shown in- Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views on an enlarged scale of the 'oil spraying nozzle and associated parts; andFigs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the track wiper.

My improved apparatus may be applied to an ordinary fiat car without modification tached two *supporting members 1*, each.

supporting upper and lower guide plates or brackets 2 on which are supported for vertical movemen't. suitable supporting members in the form of rods A cross pipe 4 is attached by means of suitable Ts to the lower ends of the rods 3 and through this pipe the oil is conducted from the source. of supply to the spraying devices. The'upper ends of the rods 3 are connected by links 5, shown in Fig. 2. to swinging counterbalance levers 6 fulcrumed on a cross shaft 7t'urning in. bearings supported on the floor of the car adjacent the end. The levers are provided with balance weights 8 to offset the weight of the spraying devices so that .the rods 3 may be easily held in the position Ts or similar connections 12 positioned preferably with their downward openings di rectly above the treads of the rails. Beneath the connections 12 'is a valve 13 and underneath the valve is a cross pipe 14 to the ends of which. are connected depending pipes 15 extending downwardly on either side of the rail and terminating in flattened nozzles 16 directed to project the oilin a thin, vertical, sheet-like spray against the side faces of the rails. The oil is preferably forced. through the nozzle in the form of an air spray and to this end each of the pipes 15 is provided with a small inner pipe or nozzle 17 shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 4, through which compressed air is forced into the oil immediately above the nozzle 16 from an air pipe 18 connected to the pipes 17 across their upper ends as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Midway between the pipes 15 and im-. mediately over the rails are brackets 19 depending from the brackets 2 and supporting on their lower ends curved guards 20 covering the upper faces of the rails to prevent the oil from the nozzles from accidentally reaching the treads of the rails. The brackets 19 are made preferably in two parts the lower part 21 of each bracket being mounted for vertical movement and adjustment on the upper fixed part by means of bolts 22 working in suitable vertical slots 23 in the fixed part of the bracket. The lower part 21, with the guard 20, is raised preferably by the spraying devices when they are vertically adjusted through a suflicient distance for which purpose the part 21 is provided with a fixed lug 24 which is engaged by a cooperating lug 25 attached to the cross pipe 14 of the spraying device, the construction being such that the guard 20 will remain in lowered position over the rail until the nozzles 16 are raised well above the guard when the guard will also be raised so that the whole device will clear any obstruction adjacent the track and any discharge from the nozzles will be prevented from striking the tread of the rail while the nozzles are being raised. It will also be seen that when the spraying apparatus is lowered, the guard will first move down in position to protect the rail, and the nozzles will then move down by the.gua rd to position to spray the rails beneath the treads thereof.

The-oil is supplied to the spraying devices through a flexible pipe 26 for permitting the adjustment of the spraying devices, which pipe is connected by suitable couplings with the line pipe 27 extending alongside of the car and adapted to be connected to the delivery pipe from the bottom of a tank car, not shown, which will be coupled to the train immediately to the rear of the flat car.

The compressed air for the sprays may be supplied from the locomotive but I prefer to provide an additional compressor as indicated at 28, Figs. 1 and 2, carried by the car and operated by steam from the locomotive received through the steam pipe 29 and discharged through the exhaust pipe 30. The compressor discharges compressed air into a storage tank 31v which is also connected through the pipe 32 with the air supply from the locomotive. The pipe from the compressor to the air tank is tapped adjacent to the compressor for connection through the valve 33 to a pipe 34 which ex-. tends under the car floor to the front end of the caradjacent the spraying devices. The pipe 34 is provided near its end with a suitable cutoff valve 35 and terminates beyond the valve in a cross pipe 36 which is connected at each end by suitable flexible hose 37 to the air pipe 17 of each spraying device. The oil is fed from the tank car to the spraying device bymeans of air pressure from the storage tank obtained through a pipe 38 connected through suitable flexible connections not shown to the tank car above the surface of the oil, a reducing valve 39 being preferably inserted as a slight pres sure of 8 or 10 pounds is suflicient to feed the oil.

To remove from the tread any oil which may accidentally reach the same, I preferably provide a wiper 40 of the character shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. This wiper comprises a metal frame containing a wooden block 41 having attached to its under surface a series of flexible wiping fingers 42 of rubber, felt, or other suitable material. The wiper is supported by means of a rod 43 hinged as at 44 to the under side of the car body and may be raised and lowered out of and into contact with the track by means of a link 45 .operated through a suitable bell crank 46 and rod 47 from a. lever 48 located on the car fleor'at the forward end of the car. There is also provided means for applying sand to the track wherever necessary and particularly where the oil has been wiped ofl the tread. A sand box 49 is mounted on the floor of the car and is provided with suitable outlet pipes 50 for conducting the sand to the track. In order for the operator to control the flow of sand from his position near the spraying end of the car thereis preferably provided an air pressure feed for the sand consisting of an air pipe 51 connected to the pipe 34 by a pipe 51 through a hand valve 52 supported on a suitable standard at the end of the car. The quantity of oil used may also be controlled from the operators end of the car by means of a regulating valve 53 provided with an elongated stem 54 projecting above the floor at the forward end of the car.

In addition to the previously. described levers at the operators end of the car there are also provided suitable lever systems for operating the cutoff valves 13 and 35 in the oil and air pipes respectively for cutting off the oil and air when the spraying device is raised in passing over switches, frogs, and other obstructions alongside of the track. The lever system for operating the valve 13 comprises a pair of bell cranks 55 attached to the ends of the cross rod 56 which forms the pivotal connection between the rods 3 and their supporting links, the bell cranks being connected by suitable links 57 to their respective valves. The cross rod 56 is provided with an operating arm 58 connected by links 59 to the controlling lever 60 suit ably mounted on the fioor of the car, the construction being such that the entire spraying system including the valve operating connections may be raised and lowered without operating the valves to any material extent. This is important because the valves should be closed during raising and lowering of the nozzles.

For operating the air valve 35 a lever 61 is provided, which lever is connected to the double crank lever 62- mounted at the edge of the car fioor and having its projecting crank connected by a suitable link 63 to the valve stem 64, of the valve 35. There may also be provided, if desired, a cross pipe 65 for sprinkling the road bed at the stations, etc. As this pipe is used only occasionally it may be controlled by a separate hand valve 66, but of course if desired a connection may be provided whereby it may be opened and closed by the operator at the end of the car.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the above description. With the connections attached to the air and oil supply as described, the operator lowers the spraying device by means of the lever 11 into close proximity to the track as indicated in Fig. 3. The guards 2O first moving down into protecting relation to the rail treads and the nozzles subsequently passing down by the said guards. so that the treads are protected during descent of the nozzles. He then turns on the oil and air by means of the control levers 60 and 61, the air compressor forcing the oil through the narrow slot of the nozzle in a fine spray which is distributed over the side faces of the track rails and connected fixtures. the quantity of oil depending upon the-adjustment of the supply valves and the rapidity of movement of the train. The car carrying the spraying devices is at the forward end ofthe train so that the operator can watch the road bed and by means of his levers 11, 60 and 61 cut off the air and oil supply and raise the spraying devices to clear any cross tracks, switches or other obstructions along the track. It has been found that by proper adjustment of the supply pipes the train may be moved at 20 miles an hour, spraying about 100 gallons of oil to the mile which will be distributed over the entire distance without waste of the oil. This-quantity is all that is required for roads never before treated. After the first treatment, an occasional retreatment, utilizing about 50 gallons to the mile will effectively prevent rusting.

As described my improved apparatus is adapted to be used in connection with a separate tank car for the oil supply, but it is obvious that the oil may be carried in suitable tanks mounted on the car. Also the compressor may be operated by a gasolene or other engine carried by the car so that the whole apparatus will be an independent unit and may be used on electric or other railroads.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located to deliver its discharge against the side of arail, and a guard protecting the tread-0f the rail.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located to deliver its discharge against the side of the rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzle, and a guard protecting the tread of the rail.

3. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located to deliver its discharge against the side of a rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzle, a guard for protecting the tread of the rail and means for raising and lowering said guard.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located to deliver its discharge against the side of a rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzle, a guard protecting the tread of'the rail and means whereby the guard is raised after thenozzle is raised and is lowered in advance of the nozzle.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a pair of nozzles carried by the car, and located to discharge on opposite sides of a rail.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a pair of nozzles carried by the car, and located to discharge on opposite sides of a rail, and a guard located between said nozzles and overlying the tread of the rail.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the'car and located to deliver its discharge against theside of a rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzle, a guard protecting the tread of the rail, and means whereby the raising .and lowering of the nozzle raises and lowers the guard.

8. In an apparatus ofthe character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located to deliver its discharge against the side of a rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzle, a guard protecting the tread of the rail, and means whereby the guard remains in lowered position during partial rising movement of the nozzle and is raised after the nozzle reaches a point above the guard.

9. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located with its discharge opening below the tread of a rail, and'adapted to discharge against the side of the rail.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located with its discharge opening below the tread of a rail. and adapted to discharge against the side of the rail, means for raising said nozzle to a point above the tread of the rail.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, a nozzle carried by the car and located with its discharge opening below the tread of a rail, and adapted to discharge against the side of the rail, means .for raising said nozzle to a point above the tread of the rail, and a guard to protect the tread of the rail from discharge from the nozzle during raising and lowering of the nozzle.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, spraying devices carried by said car adapted to direct a spray continuously against the side faces of the rails of said track, and means for continuously supplying the liquid to be sprayed to said devices.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, air pressure atomizing and spraying devices carried by said car adaptedto direct a spray continuously against the side faces of the rails of said track, and means for continuously supplying the liquid to be sprayed and air under pressure to said devices.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car to be propelled over a railway track, spraying devices carried by said car and having nozzles oneach side of each rail, and means for raising and lowering said nozzles to bring them into and out of proximity to the side faces of the rails of said track. V

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car to be propelled over a railway track, spraying devices carried by said car comprising nozzles on each side of each rail, means for raising and lowering said nozzles to bring them into and out of proximity to the side faces of the rails of said track, and a guard covering the upper surface'of the track.

16. In an apparatus of. the character described, the combination of a car to be propelled over 'a railway track and spraying devices carried by said car comprising nozzles on each side of each rail of said track, guards covering. the tread surface of said rails, and means for raising and lowering said guards and nozzles out of and into proximity to said rails.

17. 'In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car to be propelled over a railway track and spraying devices carried by said car comprising nozzles on each side of each rail of said track, guards covering the tread surface of said rails, andmeans for raising and lowering said guards and nozzles out of and into proximity to said rails, said means comprising a single actuating element operating to raise each pair of nozzles above its guard before effecting movement of said guard.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying devices depending from said car at. one end thereof and comprising nozzles for both sides of each track, controlling valves therefor, means operable from the floor of the car adjacent said end for raising and lowering the spraying devices, and means also operated from the floor of the car for actuating said controlling valves.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying devices depending from said car and comprising a plurality of feed pipes having flattened nozzles arranged one on each side of each rail and positioned to direct the spray in a vertical sheet against the side faces of the rails and track fixtures, air pipes in said feed pipes having orifices above said nozzles, and means for supplying liquid to said feed pipes and compressed air to said air pipes.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying I devices depending from said car and comprising a plurality of feed pipes having flattened nozzles arranged one on each side of each rail and positioned to direct the spray in a vertical sheet against the side faces of the rails and track fixtures, a guard covering the tread of said rail between said nozzles, air pipes in said feed pipes having orifices above said nozzles, means for raising and lowering said nozzles and guards, and means for supplyingliquid to said feed pipes and compressed air to said air pipes.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying devices depending from said car and adapted to direct a spray against each side face of each rail, and means for wiping the tread of said rails after the operation of the spraying devices.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying devices depending from said car and adapted to direct a spray against each side face of each rail, means for Wiping the tread of said rails after the operation of the spraying devices, and means for applying sand to the rail after the passage of the'wiper.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of spraying devices depending from said car at one end thereof and adapted to direct a spray against each side face of each track, means for controlling said spraying devices from a position adjacent the end of said car, means for wiping the tread of the rails after the passage of said spraying devices, means for applying sand to said rails after the passage of said wiper, and means for controlling said wiper and sand applying means from said position adjacent the end of the car.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track and a nozzle carried by the car and located and adapted to deliver its discharge in the form of a sheet-like spray against the side of a rail.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of a spraying device carried by said car and comprising a feed pipe having a nozzle formed to direct liquid in a sheet-like 'spray against the side face of a rail, an air pipe in said feed pipe having an orifice above said nozzle, and means for supplying liquid to said feed pipe'and air under pressure to said air pipe.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a car adapted to be propelled over a railway track, of a spraying device carried by said car and comprising a feed pipe having a nozzle formed to direct liquid in a sheet-like spray against the side face of a rail, an air pipe in said feed pipe having an orifice above said nozzle, means for supplying liquid to said feed pipe and air under pressure to said air pipe, and a guard protecting the tread of the rail from said spray.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. NEAFIE.

WVitnesses:

ANTHONY H. VAN ORDEN, HARRY D. BINGHAM. 

